Dhaka, April 3 (IANS): Over 1.2 million students across Bangladesh on Sunday appeared for the Higher Secondary Certificate (HSC) and equivalent exams.

The number of students has increased this year by 144,744 from last year, bdnews24 reported.

Exams are being also held at seven centres abroad, where 262 students are taking them, the reports said.

The written exams are scheduled to end on June 9 while practical exams will be held between June 11 and 20.

The exams started at 10 a.m. in 2,452 centres across the nation.

Education Minister Nurul Islam Nahid is scheduled the visit a centre at the Shiddheshwari Girls’ College in Dhaka.

The minister had earlier said that they have adopted all possible measures to prevent any leak of question papers.

“Those who might be involved in this are under surveillance by law enforcers and intelligence agencies.”

Students with disabilities would be given 20 minutes more to write their answers with the help of scribes.

Those with special needs, that is autism and Down syndrome, will get extra 30 minutes as well as will be allowed to be accompanied by their parents, teacher or a helper.